by Unique Pininfarina Y Berlinetta: an egg-shaped experiment based on the Fiat 600D
The original Fiat 600D, which in shape and philosophy is not too different from the classic Mini, is a true Italian icon. Small, maneuverable, and stylish, it had a rear-engine layout and won hearts solely with its charm. This very car became the unexpected basis for one of the boldest experiments by the Pininfarina design house.
Over the decades of its work, Pininfarina has created some of the most outstanding cars in history, but this example is one of the strangest. The model, known as the Pininfarina Y Berlinetta, completely reimagined the humble 600D, wrapping its chassis in an aerodynamic egg-shaped body designed to achieve a higher top speed. Only one such car was built, and it will be put up for auction next week.
Technical specifications and performance
Under the hood of this unique Pininfarina is a four-cylinder engine with a displacement of 767 cc, producing 32 horsepower at 4800 rpm and paired with a four-speed manual transmission. The original Fiat 600D had the same engine, but its top speed was limited to 110 km/h. In contrast, the Pininfarina version reached up to 128 km/h during tests, which was almost certainly made possible by the significantly better body aerodynamics.
Design and features
To say the car looks unusual is an understatement. The front includes three round headlights housed inside a transparent curved casing, as well as three chrome elements protruding from the bumper. The body conceals a surprisingly spacious interior, while the rear section was lengthened compared to the original 600D.
Bonhams
Other changes were also made. For example, Pininfarina added a new Nardi steering wheel and placed the spare wheel in front of the passenger compartment to enhance safety. The car retains its original silver color scheme, and despite its age, the paint appears to be well-preserved. Since its creation, it has been housed at the National Automobile Museum in Reno, Nevada, which also contains over 1,400 other classic cars.
Auction and condition
Bonhams auction house, which is handling the sale, notes that the odometer shows only 4,991 miles (about 8,032 km) – a very low figure for a car over six decades old. Its value is expected to range from $100,000 to $200,000, reflecting the difficulty of appraising a truly unique example.
Bonhams
This car is a striking example of how the Italian design house could transform an ordinary production car into a true work of art and engineering thought. Although the Y Berlinetta did not become a mass-produced model, it demonstrates the boldness of Pininfarina’s experiments in the 1960s, when aerodynamics and unconventional shapes began to play a key role. The fact that the car has been preserved in original condition with low mileage and spent most of its life in a museum makes it extremely valuable for collectors. The price of $100-200 thousand may seem high for a car with a 32-horsepower engine, but it is fully justified by its uniqueness and historical value as the only one of its kind creation from one of the world’s most famous design houses.
